Extensible ice tray grid



Feb. 18, 1947. n. H. ARl-:Evlzs 2,4l6,l9 v

EXTENSIBLE ICE TRAY GRID f Filed Aug. 5, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 bum .I Ru' vrs.

ma A TrQRNEYs.

Feb. 18, 1947. D, H. REEVES I EXTENSIBLE ICE TRAYGRID y 3 Sheets-Skaai'. 2

Filed Aug. 5, 1937 INVENTOR.

Feb'. 1s, 1947. D. H. REEVES 2,416,119

EXTENSIBLE ICE TRAY GRID Filed Aug. 5, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3/ v3 v; w

INVENTOR.

wwm o f Rte ves.

l//S ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb.l 18, 1947 Donald H. Reeves, Dayton,`hlo, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a

lcorporation o1' Delaware Application August 5, 1937, Serial No. 157,575

( Cl.A (i2- 108.5

Claims.

'I'his invention relates to freezing devices for liquids and particularly to ice trays employed in household refrigerating apparatus.

One of the objects of my invention 'is to provide an improved grid construction adapted to be removably disposed in an ice tray for dividing the interior of the tray into a. plurality of ice block compartments and a. novel method of rey moving ice blocks from the tray and grid without application of artificial heat thereto.

Another object -of my invention is to provide a metallic grid structure for an ice tray which structure has certain walls thereof movable relative to other walls for breaking the bond between ice blocks in the grid and the grid walls to thereby release the blocks therefrom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a metallic grid structure having superimposed sections forming a two-part longitudinal dividing wall one part of which is extensible lengthwise of the other part thereoffor moving transverse dividing members carried thereby to enlarge the ice block compartments formed by the structure and release ice therefrom.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a, still further and more specific object of my invention to provide a unitary metallic grid structure having a longitudinal dividing wall formed of superimposed parts and one lpart of which is formed by rigid sections including integral transverse walls movably secured together and movable progressively relative to one another to permit lengthwise extension of the one part of the longitudinal dividing wall relative to the other part thereof for releasing ice blocks from the structure.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following de- ,scription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred formV of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ice tray having a grid positioned therein and constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side viewof the freezing device shown in Fig. 1 and is taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the freezing device taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. l showing in detail the connections between parts of the grid construction;

y Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the grid together with ice blocks frozen therein and adhering thereto elevated relative to the tray;

2 Fig. 6 is a view disclosing the grid and ice blocks adhering thereto removed from the tray and showing certain walls of the grid structure moved relative to other walls thereof for releasing ice blocks therefrom; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the position of the walls of the grid structure after having been moved to release all ice blocks therefrom.

Referring to the drawings, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, I haveshown inA Figs. l.

2 and 3 a metal ice tray I0 having side walls II (see Fig. 3), a bottom wall I2 and opposed end .walls I3 and I4. Thetray side walls'II and thefront end wall I3 thereof converge outwardly toward the top of the tray. The tray back wall Il is converged outwardly toward the top of the tray a greater distance than other upright walls thereof for a purpose which will become apparent hereinafter. The walls II, I3 and "I4 of tray I0 have their upper edge rolled over to form a rim` Il which extends continuously around the top of the tray. A portion of the metal tray Ill is extended downwardly from rim I5', as at IB, at the front end thereof and provides a mounting for a heavy metal piece I1 which has a handle I3 pivotally secured thereto. The handle I8 facilitates placing of tray II) in or on a cooling element of a refrigerating system and a cam surface I9 formed thereon functions, upon actuating handle I 8, to break an ice bond between the tray and its support to permit removal of the. tray and its frozen contents ifrom the cooling element. 'Ihe handle Ira is normally disposed in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings with the cam surface I3l thereof resting upon a refrigerated shelf or support for the tray. Upon clasping the handle I 3 with the hand and pulling forward on same, it rotates about its pivotal mounting and causes the cam surface I9 thereof to impart force to the tray support to thereby break the ice bond between the tray and its support and elevate the tray relative thereto. Thereafter, the tray I Il may readily be removed from the cooling element or evaporator.

A unitary metallic grid structure, generally represented by the reference character 20, is removably disposed within tray I0 and divides the interior thereof into a plurality of rows of open-top molds, cells or compartments 2|. The grid structure 2li includes a vertically disposed longitudinal partition or wall comprising two members or parts 22 and 23 positioned one above the other. The lower wall part 23 of the longitudinal partition of grid 20 is in the form of a single rigid strip of 3 metal having an ear portion 24 formed upwardly of its top edge surface 25 at the end thereof disposed adjacent the front wall I3 of tray l0. This rigid metal part 23 of the longitudinal grid wall or partition also has a raised ear portion 26 part 22 `e vertically disposedtw-arilon'gitudinal partition of grid 20 is formed of a plu-f rality 'of rigid sections arranged to be mvd lengthwise relative to one anotherqr a-purpose to be hereinafter described.

Each rigid section offlth sec'itionalet'clp 4wal part 22 of the longitudina dfp'artitinffc' prises two oppositely disposed substantially shaped sheet metal members,.; 1',Lhe ywsidesor portions 3| of the oppositely'disposedlhshaped members are positioned substantiallyipa'ralllto? one another and are; bent outwardly as at 32 priyideaaspcetherebetween for Sections. Oppositel sposed i Et-hv frigidg-sections tical dimension' tharfid-heer l *shaped are of greater ver the partition to. "f provide tlml interior .ofttray Sfofticei block comparti 6 :3 im Shaft.

secured sidi-secctangular Lrshapedg members, of frthe-. .s iuareal. shaft;mor'-` ..0 41ngthw-isetherein he igiixdA gsectionsggare movable .ayglisrrovided oles 4| which receive the-round: f @a .ril/@bf zrfltedfirrto .a round vupstandinug; ear: fporltion 23 l of the@twofpartglongitudiructurefattheaone Thegvconstruction he sections .Olathe 4 Y end-section relative to the rigid section 23 of the partition or wall. A single metal piece 45 is clamped between the L-shaped members at the opposite end of the sectional wall part of the longitudinal grid partition and is provided with members. Thus the metal piece can be piv- )'oted relative to the end section at the rear of trayllior a purpose to be prsently described;

hol `h'clmreceif'ves a rivet 5I secured to the legs 2 Armed a lever 53 and which legs stradle llthefs'7letali"piece 45. Another portion of the .legs 5529i.. levi/ar7 5 3 straddles the upstanding ear 'on 2'6""c`3'fth`lower part 23 of the longitudinal cgri'dlapar'tition or Wall and has arivet 54, which passes through a hole provided in the ear 26, eee. seenftherefpre that V2..2Af=l.r1.f 1.3i 0f ides. i i

A' L relative. leid Per@ .'23

.a be .herein ftervidewhed gberateiiaofathe..dvice no d hat lever 5A3finc1udes .face .5.6 adiacenti@ hrchgsurface. is* adapted A.o tray lllw en the handle ...Related Y e. i .-flhe... is therefore.. elevated to Y "llftahdlekert @force ce fapplied .t tray I0 heeleverlend of crateriabout its ue. -tQfrai'singcr,.- .rotan M.elei/ation of: Ethe; lever-."1 end; of sthe sectional finem- .fberfrorfpart-'Z of the i'longitudinal 'gridfpartition relative toithe'flowenwallspart 23fthereo'f." 'This os-itiorriv offurtheitmovement of lever l53 'is illusnoteuethat thessena of velongatedslot#1mi' inf the metal piece 45 has engaged the rivet 41 and hasV Y an elongated hole 46 which receives a rounded Theo er vend of metal piece 45 is provided with Y ture "20; togetherwith Y d b referencetothis N ever pivot y.p011t54- cks3cane releasedqfromthe gridwhile ,grated-nn Figi-.1:6 fontherfd'rawings and 'it W111i be caused the end partition 33 of grid 20 to move toward the lever end of the structure. 'I'hus the movement of metal piece 45 upwardly relative to the longitudinal grid wall part 23 and outwardly from the remainder of the structure 20, to slide the end partitions 33, has caused the ice blocks 59 at the lever end of the grid to be released therefrom and in Fig. 6 these ice blocks are shown falling from the structure 20. It should be noted that the sliding movement of the lever end partitions 33 just described, while elevating the remaining partitions 33 slightly, does not slide these remaining partitions lengthwise of the structure 20 and that still further movement of lever 53 is necessary to cause sliding thereof. Therefore still further movement of lever 53 in the same direction of motion about its pivot 54 will, due to the elongated or rectangular shaped holes 36 in the rigid sections of the sectional member or part 22 of the longitudinal grid wall, cause the remaining partitions to be slid lengthwise relative to one another progressively from the lever end of the structure 20 to its opposite end. Obviously therefore the sectional member or part 22 of the twowall-part longitudinal grid partition is extended lengthwise of the rigid wall part 23 thereof. It is to be observed that the member or part 22 of the unitary grid structure 20 is elevated relative to the longitudinal wall or wall part 23y and that the lateral grid walls or partitions 33 secured to member 22 are moved upwardly therewith and also moved relative to one another lengthwise or longitudinally of the wall 22. This progressive extension of the one part of the longitudinal grid partition or wall relative to the other part thereof also progressively moves kall the partitions 33 of the structure toward the lever end thereof to enlarge the ice block compartments 2| and to cause ice blocks 59 to be released from the structure in succession as willbe seen by referring to Fig. '7 of the drawings.

It will be understood that the lever 53 has a single direction of motion for performing the two functions of elevating. the unitary grid structure 20 together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray I0 and of moving certain walls `or.

partitions of the grid structure relative to other walls or partitions thereof to enlarge the ice block compartments and to release ice blocks from the grid. It is also to be understood that, while the shaft portions of rivets 42 and 41 are round to permit pivoting of metal piece'45 about rivet 41 and the side portions 3l of the front end section of the grid about rivet 42, other rivets 38 are squared as at 31 and fit in the squared holes 35 and rectangular holes I36 for preventing turning or pivoting of the rigid sections of the sectional wall part 22 of the longitudinal grid partition or wall. Thus the connections between the sections which permit lengthwise movement thereof relative to one another only serve as means for holding all the rigid sections, except the section formed by the metal piece 45, in the same plane with one another at all times to prevent buckling of the sectional wall part 22 of the longitudinal grid wall. By preventing buckling of the rigid sections the operation of returning the sectional member or wall part.22 of the longitudinal-partition to its normal superimposed position upon the rigid wall part 23 thereof is greatly facilitated. While I have shown the upper part of the longitudinal grid partition or wall as being extensible lengthwise of the lower part thereof it i-s to be understood that the structure may be constructed so that the lower grid wall ypart is extensible .l lengthwise of the upper part thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention.

From the foregoing it will be seen vthatI have provided an improved ice tray gridl structure which is of low cost, strong and durable, capable of being operated to extend one wall part of a two-part longitudinal partition and to enlarge the ice block compartments with a minimum of force to cause release of lthe ice blocks .from the grid. The improved grid structure is constructed in such a novel manner that ice blocks are removed therefrom without unduly shattering theblocks while at the same time the entire structure is made of metal to thereby retain the fast freezing characteristics of metal tray and grid combinations. By constructing the grid structure so that the ice block compartments are progressively enlarged a minimum of force releases all ice blocks to thus overcome objections to prior devices wherein utmost effort is required to release the blocks. The improved structure isv also of such construction that any desired number of ice wall, one part of said two-part longitudinal grid wall being formed of a plurality of rigid sections disposed above the other part thereof, said sections including body portions and partitions'v depending therefrom and extending outwardly at the sides of said longitudinal wall to divide the interior of said tray into. a plurality of rows of ice block compartments, said sections of said one part of said two-part longitudinal wall being movable relative to one another, and means acting between the two parts of said longitudinal grid wall and operable to extend said sectional part thereof lengthwise of the other partthereof for enlarging said compartments and releasing ice blocks therefrom. l Y

2. In combination. a trayhaving a unitary grid structure removably disposed therein, said grid structurel comprising a two-part longitudinal wall, one part of said two-part longitudinal grid wall being formed of a plurality of rigid sections disposed above the other part thereof, said vsections including body portions and partitions depending. therefrom and extending outwardly at the sides of said longitudinal wall to divide the interior of said tray into a plurality of rows of ice block compartments, said sections of said one part of said two-part longitudinal wall being movable relative to one another, a lever connecting the sectional part of said two-part longitudinal grid wall to the other part thereof, said lever being operable to engage said tray and elevate said grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and said lever I also being operable to extend said sectional part of said longitudinal Agrid wall lengthwise of the other part thereof after the grid structure and ice blocks have been elevated relative to the tray 4for enlarging said compartments and releasing ice blocks therefrom.

3. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprisling, a longitudinal wall formed of two parts disposed one above the other and connected at their* `ends to provide a unitary structure, one part of l said two-part longitudinal grid wall being formed i of a plurality of rigid sections secured together in movable relation to one another, and the con- 4. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a longitudinal wall formed of two parts dis- 1 posed one above the other and connected at their ends to provide a unitary structure, one part of said two-part longitudinal grid wall being formed of a plurality of rigid sections secured together in movable relation to one another, means for sliding said sections relative `to one another progressively from one portion to another portion of g the grid structure to extend said sectional part of said longitudinal grid wall lengthwise of the other part thereof, and means preventing movement between said rigid sections other than said sliding movement thereof to thereby prevent buckling of said sectional part of said longitudi- 1 nal grid wall.

5. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a longitudinal wall formed of two parts disposed one above the other and connected to` gethereto provide a unitary structure, one part l of said two-part longitudinal grid wall being 3 formed of a plurality of rigid sections movably secured together,. and means formoving said rigid sections relative to one another to extend jjsaid sectional one part of said longitudinal wall lengthwise of the other part thereof.

6. A grid for disposition in an ice tray'comi prising, a longitudinal wall formed of two parts 3 disposed one above the other` and connected to-- gether to provide a unitary structure, one vpart of said two-part .longitudinal grid wall being formed of a plurality of rigid sections movably l secured together, and means for moving said rigid sections relative to one another progressively from one part to another part of the grid structure to extend saidsectional one part of said i longitudinal wall lengthwise of the other part l thereof.

7. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a longitudinal wall formed of two parts l disposed one above the other and connected together to provide a unitary structure, one part of said two-partv longitudinal grid wall being formedof a plurality of rigid sections movably secured together," said sections each including partitions extending outwardly from said longi- 1 tudinal wall on opposite sides thereof and in vspaced apart relation along said wall, and means for moving said rigid sections relative to one l another to extend said sectional one part of said i longitudinal wall lengthwise of the other part thereof and to move said partitions away from one another to increase the space therebetween.`

8. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising. a longitudinal partition formed of two parts disposed one above the other and connected vtogether to provide a unitary structure, one part prising, a longitudinal partition formed of two i 'the length thereof to provide a row of ice block compartments at the side of said longitudinal partition, means for extending said wall length--4 wise of the other part of said two-part longitudinal partition, and said wing portions being constructed and arranged to be moved relative. to one another by the extension of said wall for enlarging said ice block .compartments to cause ice blocks to be liberated therefrom.

l0. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising, a substantially non-flexible longitudinal metal wall and a plurality of substantially nonlexible metal partitions extending laterally from each side thereof to provide rows of ice block compartments, said grid also including a member disposed above said longitudinal wall and extending lengthwise therewith, said member, said longitudinal wall and said lateral partitions being secured together in movable relation to one another to form a unitary grid structure, means for elevating said member relative to said longitudinal grid wall, said laterally extending grid partitions being secured to said member and elevated therewith by said means to move ice blocks upwardly relative to said longitudinal grid wall, and all of said laterally extending grid partitions being constructed and arranged with respect to said longitudinal grid wall to be moved relative to one another by said means in another direction of movement relative to said lgngitudinal grid wall other than said elevating movement thereof to break ice blocks therefrom and cause their liberation from the compartments of said unitary grid structure.

1l. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising,4 a substantiallynon-flexible longitudinal metal wall and a plurality cf substantially nonflexible metal partitions extending laterally from each side thereof to provide rows of ice block compartments, said grid also including a member disposed above said longitudinal wall and extending lengthwise therewith, said member, said longitudinal wall and said lateral partitions being secured together in movable relation to one another to form a unitary grid structure, means for elevating said member relative to said longitudinal grid wall, said laterally extending grid partitions being secured to said member and elevated therewith by said meansto move ice blocks upwardly relative to said longitudinal grid wall, and all of said laterally extending gridv partitions being constructed and arranged with respect to said longitudinal grid wall to be moved relative to one another by said means in a direction longitudinally of said longitudinal grid Wall to break ice blocks therefrom and to enlarge said compartments for liberating ice blocks from the unitary grid structure.

l2. A grid for disposition in an ice tray comprising. a plurality oi substantially non-flexible upright metal sections arranged in horizontal".

alignment with one another to form a sectional longitudinal partition of' predetermined normal block compartments, said sections being movably connected together to provide a unitary removable grid structure, means for moving the sections of said longitudinal partition relative to one another lengthwise of said grid structure to extend said longitudinal partition beyond said predetermined normal length thereof, and the connections of said plurality of sections with one another being constructed and arranged to move said lateral partitions in a direction to enlarge said compartments and liberate ice blocks therefrom upon movement of said sections relative to one another.

13. A grid for ice cube trays comprising, a series of separate dividersections arranged in succession to form a grid, each section including a longitudinal plate and a. laterally extending transverse fin, each plate being pivotally and slidably connected to another plate in the series.

14. -A grid for ice cube trays comprising, a series of separate divider sections arranged in succession to form a grid, each section including a rst wall portion providing the grid with a longitudinal partition and a second wall portion extending laterally from said rst wall portion to form a plurality of spaced apart partitions along the length of said longitudinal grid partition, and each of said sections being slidably connectedvto another section in the series thereof to permit movement of the lsections relative to one another.

15. Al grid for ice cube trays comprising, a series of separate divider sections arranged in succession to form a grid, each section including a first wall portion providing the grid with a longitudinal partition and a second wall portion extending laterally from said rst wall portion to form a plurality of spaced apart partitions along the length of said longitudinal grid partition, each section being directly connected to its adjacent section to provide a unitary structure, and the connection of said sections being constructed and arranged to permit movement of the sections relative to one another. f

DONALD H. REEVES. 

